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Caring Reflection j2

The document discusses a nursing student's reflection on caring for a patient and the importance of the Catholic health care ministry. The student listened to an elderly patient share her medical and personal history, including struggles with homelessness. While the student felt unable to directly help with the patient's living situation, she was able to listen, provide comfort, and ensure the patient's spiritual needs were met through a visit with a priest. The experience reinforced the importance of understanding a patient's cultural and spiritual beliefs to provide holistic care. The student identified goals for future practicums of learning patient's backgrounds and helping them achieve their daily goals.

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72 views

Caring Reflection j2

The document discusses a nursing student's reflection on caring for a patient and the importance of the Catholic health care ministry. The student listened to an elderly patient share her medical and personal history, including struggles with homelessness. While the student felt unable to directly help with the patient's living situation, she was able to listen, provide comfort, and ensure the patient's spiritual needs were met through a visit with a priest. The experience reinforced the importance of understanding a patient's cultural and spiritual beliefs to provide holistic care. The student identified goals for future practicums of learning patient's backgrounds and helping them achieve their daily goals.

Uploaded by

api-403422256
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Caring and the Catholic Health Care Ministry

I looked at the different topics to relate my reflection to, and “Caring and the Catholic Health
Care Ministry” jumped right out to me. There’s no doubt that this was theme for the day. It’s a
nurse’s job to care for their patient’s wellbeing -physically, mentally, emotionally, and
spiritually. It brings me joy to help others in any way I can; it’s one of the reason’s I decided that
nursing was for me. I also feel that it’s important for a nurse to consider their patient’s culture
and belief system when caring for them. This allows the patient to feel safe, respected, and open
to a trusting relationship with their nurse.
I went to introduce myself to my patient, and she welcomed me into her room with a
positive spirit. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking well-groomed and ready to start
the day. She must’ve felt that she could open up to me, because as I was doing my assessment,
my patient talked to me about her medical and personal history. She shared that she was
originally from Texas and that she was caring for her fifteen-year-old granddaughter. My patient
was in tears as she went into detail about her struggles over the years and how she ultimately lost
her home recently. Of course, there’s not much I could say that could make things better for her,
so I just held her hand and listened to her.
This was tough, because as a nurse, we naturally want to do everything we can to help
-especially in this situation. The reality is though, there’s not always a lot we can do. I know that
there will be plenty more instances just like this one. There will be diseases I want to cure, home
lives I want to fix, and stubborn patients that I just want to make better decisions regarding their
health, but we can’t do it all. Therefore, it’s important to do what we’re able to for our patients,
while they’re in our care.
I felt so sad for this woman. I felt powerless because I knew there wasn’t much I could do
about her home life. I chose to listen. I listened and held her hand. If nothing else, she knew I
cared. She told me that someone had come to talk to her about long term care. (This was
something that she wanted.) I figured it was the case manager and took the time to reeducate her
on who they are and what they do. After our talk, pastoral care came to see her. She talked of
wanting to see a Catholic priest while she was at the hospital. I knew this would was something
else that would help her spiritual health.
Thinking back on this experience, I wish I had thought to ask her about her cultural and
spiritual beliefs. It’s something that I really want to work on because I believe it’s very important
for patient care. I’m so happy though that I had the time to sit and listen to her. I know it will be
rare to have that much time with our patients once we’re on the floor, but I’d like to be able to
build that kind of rapport with my patients as much as I can.

Reference
Nielsen, A., Stragnell, S., & Jester P. (2007). Guide for reflection using the clinical judgment

model. Journal of Nursing Education, 46(11), 513-516.

Two goals for the next practicum experience:


1. Get to know my patient’s cultural and/or spiritual background
2. Ask my patient their number one goal for the day and help them achieve it

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